Journey to Yomi, a perfect tribute to Akira Kurosawa’s samurai films

Many years have passed since Poland became a preferred country for the creation of video games or not. CD Projekt Red Studio is clearly the creator of the video game saga Witcher, Is its origin and the most obvious symbol. But many other studios have managed to provide some visibility, such as Flying Wild Hog.

Founded in 2009 and based in Warsaw, it is best known for its delicious relic of the cult license, FPS. Shadow FighterReleased in 2013, which will have two sequels; The last one that just came out elsewhere. If the studio is still cold and hot in its past, it is making an amazing change by delivering the game available May 5 and published by the indie label Devolver Digital: Hike to War.

The very first pictures of the game, which were presented a few months ago, rightly caused a lot of conversation. Visually beautiful, in black-and-white colors, with film grains that give it an old-fashioned feel, the game is intended to be a tribute to Chanbara’s films (Sword Films), especially Akira Kurosawa, Miss Sanjuro, Yojimbo, and The. 7 Samurai.

Below is the game trailer …

The latter, created by Leonard Menchiar, formed the idea for this game in the early 2000s. His credo: a tribute to the samurai films of the 50s and 60s, with concerns for absolute authenticity. “Authenticity is fundamental to us, and everything we do is meticulously crafted about ancient Japanese culture, religious beliefs, hanging a sword on a wall, tying a kimono …” Explains the game director.

“Hike to War is a life-and-death cinematic experience set in the Edo period through the eyes of Hirok, a young swordsman who has vowed to protect his city and the people he loves from all danger. A lone samurai must travel beyond life and death to confront himself and decide his own path. ” Says Menchiar, who started working on the game in his corner before arriving in Devolver to present his first draft in 2013.

The game is a bloody, initiator of a journey into the depths of war. In Shinto mythology, the world is divided into three main kingdoms: heaven, earth, and the underworld, which is actually the kingdom of the dead. The Yomi no Kuni Where YomiThe world of the unclean.

Luxurious artistic direction

Great power Hike to War, Which spreads its history in 7 chapters, covering about 5/6 hours of the game, this is undoubtedly its artistic direction, absolutely elevated. Not far from a simple trick or stylistic effect, but the choice of black and white gives this game an often stunning depth of field that is 2D, offers impressive attention to detail and enhances contrasts with brilliant effects of lighting and Chinese shadows.

To tell you the truth, from a purely aesthetic point of view, black and white Hike to War And there is nothing to envy its rendering in the Kurosawa mode offered in the game Ghost of Tsushima, Released in 2020. A game whose development budget far exceeded the capabilities of Flying Wild Hog; Even if he had been, it is true, a OpenWorld.

In the cleared tables, which are one after the other, at a fairly relative zenith, Hiroki holds a sword in his hand to clear the exit between the living and the dead, not at all very different in the face of enemies, but killed by a gesture of fluidity and battle. The studio pays a lot of attention.

If the game is packed in an excellent box, it is also not free from defects. The choice of framing is not always happy, for example, where it is difficult to see the character and disconnect from his environment, sometimes absolute, to find a way to continue. And perhaps most importantly, ultimately, repetitive gameplay; Ultimately, the goal is only to advance by moving from the lives of his enemies to death, whether on ghosts or not.

As such, we recommend that you do not play the game at the lowest level of difficulty, or “Kabuki”, but start at least in “Bushido”, which corresponds to the normal difficulty and will give you a minimal challenge. Fights in the game without the impression of moving. The final difficulty level, called “Kensei”, will be unlocked only after the game is completed for the first time. As much as you can tell it is ruthless and punitive: if you fall, you are dead.

Despite the few reservations made above, Hike to War Definitely worth a detour. For its modest price, already between 18-20 €. For its history, which is followed by interest and is not satisfied with a simple excuse, even if we are left on a very clear path. For its lavish artistic direction. And because, FinallyGiving this game real success is also an opportunity to tell publishers that no, it’s not just sequels, remakes and other franchises that have been falling apart over the years. The premium for originality and risk-taking is just as lucrative if not much more.